Articles
©
TV Quick - 18th September 2004 - 244th September 2004
BACK TO HER ROOTS
Glenbogle is a home from
home for Monarch of the glen newcomer, Simone Lahbib.
Former Bad Girls actress Simone Lahbib is joining Monarch of the Glen,
and she's got her eye on a brand new role - as a real life Mum.
Simone, who married actor Raffaello Degruttola in May 2003, has already
signed up for a second series next year playing feisty city girl,
Isobel Anderson, and admits it would be the perfect time to start
a family.
'A few people have said that if you ever want to get pregnant, then
this is the job. A lot of people have become pregnant on this series,
and I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem if it happened to me. It's probably
a good time, and the family's on hand to babysit! It just hasn't happened
yet. It will happen when it happens.'
But with Simone in Scotland, and Raffaello at their home in London,
its often difficult to meet on a regular basis. 'You just have to
make the effort when you're tired and working a lot. I've been down
to London for one night and then straight back up the next day. Thank
god for the phone - we're constantly on it.'
The couple celebrated their first wedding anniversary in May and spent
it together in Scotland, although Simone is resigned to the fact that
Raffaello's not a born romantic, despite his Italian roots.
'He phoned me, and he remembered, so that's good. There would be no
excuse for forgetting your first wedding anniversary, surely. We went
quad biking and did all the great things you can do in the Highlands.
He's very funny, which makes up for his not being a romantic!'
Working on Monarch was like coming home for the Scottish actress Simone,
who was brought up in Stirling but moved South of the border to star
in shows such as Bad Girls and Family.
Her character Isobel arrives in the village to look after her dead
grandmothers croft, but is soon at loggerheads with new laird, Paul
over his plans for the farm.
However, watch this space - romance between the two is definitely
on the cards at some point, as Glenbogle works its magic.
Like Isobel, Simone is very close to both her grandmothers and recently
brought her French gran, who lives in Cannes, over to the UK to escape
the intense summer heat.
'Last year a lot of people she knew died, so I think it will be a
regular thing that she comes back to stay with the family in Scotland
during the summer. She's amazing for her age - she lives on her own
and looks really glamorous. At the airport, I asked her to take my
arm and shuffle like an old woman so we could jump the queue. Then,
when we were in my car, driving from Inverness, I had Faithless on
the CD and she loved it. I'll have to make her up a tape!'
Heading up to the Highlands brought back memories of picnics on family
holidays, when Simone's Dad, a chef, taught his family the difference
between mushrooms that are safe to eat and other fungi that most definitely
aren't.
Her parents still live in Scotland and her Mum spent two days on
set - although it didn't go entirely to plan. 'I had only a couple
of scenes, and she things I have the easiest job in the world.' Says
Simone. 'I wish I'd been doing a night shoot or something because
I've lost any sympathy I used to get! But it was lovely having her
to stay!'
So, will Paul and Isobel get it together? 'I hope to goodness they
sort it out - the way things are going I don't know how you'll ever
be able to put them together romantically,' says Simone. 'But the
audience will know from the start that there's something there...'